# 张冠李戴

zhāng guān lǐ dài

Attribute something to the wrong person or thing

## Meaning & wording

**Literally:** Put Zhang's hat on Li's head

**Traditional Chinese:** 張冠李戴

**Register:** Corrective · general

[Perspective](https://chinese-idioms.yudis.dev/idioms/topics/perspective)

## When to use it

Point out mixed-up names, quotations, facts, or identities.

It is mistaken attribution, not deliberately stealing someone's achievement.

## Understanding the expression

A hat belongs to one person but is placed on someone else. The visible mismatch captures an error in assigning names, statements, or characteristics. Modern use often concerns a quotation credited to the wrong author or a photograph labeled with another person's name. It can also describe broader confusion between things. The correction should identify the right owner or category, since simply calling something confused does not resolve the mismatch.

## Examples

你把哥哥的经历说成妹妹的，张冠李戴了。

### Traditional Chinese

你把哥哥的經歷說成妹妹的，張冠李戴了。

nǐ bǎ gē ge de jīng lì shuō chéng mèi mei de ， zhāng guān lǐ dài liǎo 。

You attributed the brother's experience to the sister and mixed them up.

这篇文章张冠李戴，把诗句归给了另一位诗人。

### Traditional Chinese

這篇文章張冠李戴，把詩句歸給了另一位詩人。

zhè piān wén zhāng zhāng guān lǐ dài ， bǎ shī jù guī gěi le lìng yí wèi shī rén 。

The article mistakenly credits the verse to a different poet.

照片标签张冠李戴，需要重新核对。

### Traditional Chinese

照片標籤張冠李戴，需要重新核對。

zhào piàn biāo qiān zhāng guān lǐ dài ， xū yào chóng xīn hé duì 。

The photo labels assign the wrong names and need checking.

主持人把两位嘉宾的职位张冠李戴，赶紧道歉。

### Traditional Chinese

主持人把兩位嘉賓的職位張冠李戴，趕緊道歉。

zhǔ chí rén bǎ liǎng wèi jiā bīn de zhí wèi zhāng guān lǐ dài ， gǎn jǐn dào qiàn 。

The host mixed up the guests' job titles and quickly apologized.

## Sources & reference checks

Original explanations and examples from Chinese Idioms Almanac. Source-checked October 6, 2026.

- [CC-CEDICT · forms & pronunciation](https://www.mdbg.net/chinese/dictionary?page=worddict&wdqb=%E5%BC%B5%E5%86%A0%E6%9D%8E%E6%88%B4)

- [Ministry of Education · 成語典](https://dict.idioms.moe.edu.tw/idiomView.jsp?ID=388&webMd=1&la=0)

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